Potential Roo's inspiration

Potential North Melbourne draftee Tarryn Thomas is dreaming of linking up with the Kangaroos’ players on a full-time basis.

As a part of the Roos’ Next Generation Academy, Thomas has trained with the senior list in recent years, an experience that will put him in good stead if he is drafted.

“I’ve trained there (North Melbourne) for pre-season and a couple of weeks now and then,” Thomas told foxfooty.com.au.

“It’s a good experience.

“I was bit nervous at the start, but other than that it was really good.”

“They were all professionals and I looked up at every one of them and tried to take that into my game and make me better.

Although he enjoys the experience of training with the whole team, Thomas identified captain Jack Ziebell and youngster Jy Simpkin as two players at Arden Street who influence him.

“I look up to Jy Simpkin and Jack Ziebell,” Thomas said.

“I stayed at their house and they took me under their wing.

As a Tasmanian, Thomas relishes the opportunity to watch the Roos at Blundstone Arena.

“I’ve been around them for a number of years now, so I’m kind of used to it, but I still pinch myself when I’m in the change rooms watching the team warm-up and in the gym and stuff like that,” he said.

The forward/midfielder is an exciting prospect, having won the Hunter Harrison Medal for the most outstanding player in the Under 18 Academy Series, and helped North Launceston to the Tasmanian State League flag, a day he won’t forget any time soon.

“It was a good day out there, we’ve got a pretty good team,” he said.

“I only played four games (for North Launceston), so it was pretty good experience to get back with the players that I haven’t played with for a while.”

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs